Background: Endometriosis, a prevalent multifactorial condition, has a different effect on mental and physical health in women. MicroRNAs have been reported as a main epigenetic factor in endometriosis pathogenesis. However, the role of miR-337-3p and its direct target gene, RAP1A, in endometriosis tissues have not been investigated. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression level of miR-337-3p and RAP1A gene in endometriosis tissues and normal endometrium tissues. Materials and methods: We measured the expression levels of miR-337-3p and RAP1A gene by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in 15 eutopic and ectopic tissue samples of superficial peritoneal lesions from women with endometriosis and 15 normal endometrial tissue samples from women without any symptom of endometriosis. Results: The results showed the expression level of RAP1A gene significantly increased in endometriosis tissue samples (both of ectopic and eutopic tissues), while miR-337-3p expression level decreased significantly in these tissues compared to the normal endometrium. Conclusion: In this study, we observed an inverse relationship between miR-337-3p and RAP1A gene expression in endometriosis. Dysregulation of these genes can also be interpreted as their role in the pathogenesis and progression of endometriosis.

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Objective: Endometriosis is a female reproductive system disease in which endometrial tissue are found in other women organs. Various factors are effective in the development of endometriosis and due to the interaction of genetics and environmental factors, this disease is a multifactorial disease. MAPK/ERK and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways are activated by growth factors and steroid hormones and known as two important pathways involved in the processes of growth, proliferation and survival of endometriosis cells. Raps, monomeric GTPase of Ras family, are able to activate these pathways independently of Ras. The goal of our study was to evaluated the expression level of Rap1GAP and Epac1 gene, as two important RapGAPs (GTPase-activating proteins) and RapGEFs (guanine nucleotide exchange factors) respectively, in endometriosis tissues and normal endometrium tissues.Materials and Methods: In this study, 15 samples of women without signs of endometriosis were taken as control samples, 15 ectopic and 15 eutopic samples were taken from women with endometriosis using laparoscopic surgery. The expression of Epac1 and Rap1GAP genes was investigated by Real-time PCR technique and results were analysis by One-Way ANOVA test.Results: Epac1 upregulated significantly in ectopic tissues compared to eutopic and control tissues (Their P-value were <0.0001). Rap1GAP expression was lower in ectopic tissues compared to control samples (P-value was 0.003) and eutopic tissues (P-value was 0.001).Conclusion: Based on these results, it may be concluded that changes in the expression of the Rap1GAP and Epca1 genes may play role in the pathways involved in the pathogenesis, displacement, and migration of endometriosis cells.

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Background: Endometriosis is a female reproductive system disease in which the endometrial tissue is found in other women's organs. Various factors are effective in the development of endometriosis, and because of the interaction of genetics and environmental factors, this disease is a multi-factorial disease. MAPK/ERK and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways are activated by growth factors and steroid hormones and are known as two important pathways involved in the processes of growth, proliferation, and survival of endometriosis cells. Raps, monomeric GTPase of the Ras family, are able to activate these pathways independent of Ras. The goal of our study was to evaluate the expression level of Rap1GAP and EPAC1 genes as two important RapGAPs (GTPase-activating proteins) and RapGEFs (guanine nucleotide exchange factors), respectively, in endometriosis tissues and normal endometrium tissues. Materials and Methods: In this study, 15 samples of women without signs of endometriosis were taken as control samples. Fifteen ectopic and 15 eutopic samples were taken from women with endometriosis using laparoscopic surgery. The expression of EPAC1 and Rap1GAP genes was investigated by the real-time polymerase chain reaction technique, and the results were analyzed by one-way ANOVA test. Results: EPAC1 upregulated significantly in ectopic tissues compared to eutopic and control tissues. Rap1GAP expression was lower in ectopic tissues compared to control and eutopic tissues. Conclusions: Based on these results, it may be concluded that changes in the expression of the Rap1GAP and Epca1 genes may play a role in the pathways involved in the pathogenesis, displacement, and migration of endometriosis cells.